The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) on Monday rejected what it considered possible “interference” by external forces in the upcoming May 11 General and Regional elections.
The ruling Party says it was alarmed when it learnt that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was teaming up with the Guyana National Youth Council to implement a program aimed at bringing out more youths to the May 11 polls.
PPP/C’s General Secretary Clement Rohee, who had complained of poor voter turnout at the 2011 elections, discredited the Youth Council as a “self-anointed” entity and said based on his Party’s analysis the Council has no authority to represent Guyana’s youths who make up more than 60% of the population
He reasoned that the youth grouping was a creature of “external interference” through the USAID Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project. He said the youth group is made up of partisan individuals “attempting to hijack the council.”
The PPP administration had agreed to go ahead with the LEAD project after a series of objections which led to a process of renegotiation and later an agreement to have the project rolled out on mutually agreed terms.
There was no other objection to any aspect of the project, which commenced late last year.
Rohee is now questioning the “locus standi” of the Youth Council. “The PPP rejects this interference and imposition on the electorate of Guyana,” he said.
When asked directly if the PPP was threatened by US intervention to the extent that it was working to remove the Party from Office, Rohee said he was sticking to his statement.
The PPP/C government has accused the US government on several occasions in the recent past of interfering in domestic affairs.
Only recently US Embassy Charge d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt indicated that he US government was going to lend support to the Organization of American States (OAS) in its observer mission here and was willing to assist other local bodies in this regard.
He explained that any decision to enter into a formal arrangement with the Council must be a decision that included all GECOM Commissioners but it was never discussed at that level.
“The PPP urges GECOM’s Chairman and CEO to bring this matter to the highest decision making body of GECOM for review and final determination.”
The ruling Party has been very critical of GECOM over the past months.
A GECOM press release declared that that elections body recognizes the perturbing global trends relative to youth participation in electoral processes, and intends to get involved with the GNYC in meaningful ways so as to ensure that, as part of its Civic and Voter Education campaign, the unique communication needs of the Guyanese youth are catered for.
The GNYC has outlined a plan that pertains to a robust public awareness campaign that is expected to capture the attention of youths in positive ways. The plan is to encourage them to get out and vote in the upcoming elections of May 11.
Together with GECOM, the GNYC will be ensuring that the youths of Guyana understand that voting impacts their future and that of the next generation in significant ways. (Kurt Campbell)
Filed: 2nd March, 2015
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